2019 Napa Valley Schioppettino, Matthiasson Vineyard

Schioppettino (also called Ribolla Nera) originates in the Friuli region of Italy and Slovenia. We have one of the only plantings in California. It is an ancient grape, mentioned in print for a wedding ceremony back in 1282, so probably much older than that. The name Schioppettino means “gunshot.” There are many theories for why it has that name, our opinion it should apply to the tendency for the clusters to produce “shot berries.” For that reason, and others, it’s an incredibly challenging variety to grow. It doesn’t grow up like a normal vine, instead jutting out at odd angles, creating problems for mildew and making pruning slow and exacting. It is distantly related to Syrah and Pinot noir, and the reason that you grow it is that the aromas are like taking the most haunting aspects of these two varieties, amplifying them, and combining them together. It is a Burgundy and Cote Rotie lover’s dream wine.

The wine is 100 percent Schioppettino.

The grapes were destemmed and crushed, then fermented in a small open top bin. We did two manual punch downs per day. We pressed after approximately two weeks on the skins, and aged the wine in neutral barrels for 10 months.

The pH is 3.72, the TA is 6.9 g/l, and the alcohol is 11%. 111 cases produced.

The Schioppettino has fascinating flavors of cedar, white and black pepper, violets, and raspberry. It has lots of acid and stony minerality. It has naturally low alcohol and a very refreshing and clean finish. Light bodied and low in alcohol, it is all about the flavors and aromas.

The Vineyard

The Schioppettino represents 2 rows in our home vineyard in the Western Oak Knoll area of Napa Valley. It was grafted in 2008 onto 18 year old Merlot vines. So far it has thrived in the moderate marine- influenced climate here at the southern mouth of the Napa Valley. Organically managed, with fruit trees at the ends of the rows and flowering bushes throughout for “good bug” habitat, the vines are serenaded throughout the season by kids, coyotes, owls, bees, and the occasional roar of one of our old tractors.

PO BOX 10880 NAPA, CA 94581 707.265.9349 MATTHIASSON.COM